Lens delivery system

Abstract

A lens delivery system handpiece having a threaded plunger rod with a ball lock ring. Locking the ring causes the plunger to be advanced by turning a thumbscrew or knob. Unlocking the ring allows the plunger to be advanced by pushing on the thumbscrew or knob in a manner similar to a syringe.

1. An intraocular lens delivery system, comprising:
 a) a cartridge having a bore; 
 b) a handpiece, the handpiece having a notched portion for receiving the cartridge; 
 c) a plunger coaxially received in the handpiece, the plunger having a distal tip and a proximal end opposite the distal tip, the tip reciprocating within the bore of the cartridge when the cartridge is received in the notched portion of the handpiece; 
 d) a grooved outer shaft received on the proximal end of the plunger, the grooved outer shaft having a knob rigidly attached thereon; 
 e) a ball lock ring rotationally mounted on the handpiece, the ball lock ring having a plurality of locking balls that ride within the groove of the outer shaft; and 
 f) a plurality of release angles in the ball lock ring corresponding to the locking balls, the release angles alternatively forcing the locking balls into and out of the groove in the outer shaft in response to rotation of the ball lock ring as the knob is turned, wherein the plunger is slidably advanceable to a distalmost injection position of slidable advancement by pushing the knob when the locking balls are out of the groove and the plunger is threadedly advanceable to the distalmost injection position of slidable advancement by turning the knob when the locking balls are in the groove allowing the intraocular lens to be selectively injected either by slidable or threaded advancement. 
 
     
     
       2. The lens delivery system of  claim 1  wherein forcing the locking balls out of the groove in the outer shaft allows the plunger to be pushed within the handpiece. 
     
     
       3. The lens delivery system of  claim 1  wherein rotation of the grooved outer shaft causes the plunger to reciprocate within the handpiece.